Drought

Mail delivery on Vermilion Lake was affected by the low lake level as some docks were inaccessible, due to shallow water. Some mailboat customers were given notices, alerting them to the interruption in service. Dozens of residences have water access mail delivery. Tower Timberjay (Minn.), Aug. 22, 2019

The low level of Lake Vermilion has caused boat damage for boaters who were unaware of how shallow the lake had become. An employee at a boat repair business noted that they were selling a propeller per day as people damage theirs in the lake. He urged boaters to be especially careful navigating the lake as new hazardous areas emerge. Tower Timberjay (Minn.), Aug. 22, 2019

The past 45 days of dry weather and extreme temperatures hurt crops in Hardin County. The corn made it through pollination, but endured dryness during the grain fill period, affecting kernel depth and yield. Early planted corn may be average to slightly above average yield, but late-planted corn will probably be well below average. Many cattle producers began feeding hay in recent days, and shallow stock ponds have begun to run dry. Pastures were turning brown. Soybeans were at a critical stage and will likely produce small grain, given the dry weather. The News-Enterprise (Elizabethtown, Ky.), Aug. 18, 2019

Drought and heat led to rapid declines in pastures, hay meadows and vegetable crops in most parts of East Texas. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 20, 2019

Rangelands and pastures in central Texas received some rain, but still needed more, and hay feeding increased. Livestock conditions were deteriorating, due to drought and heat. Producers needed rain to plow small grain seedbeds to prepare for planting. Soil moisture levels were short in nearly all counties in the district. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 20, 2019

Bozeman commissioners approved a water rate increase with the goal of reducing waste during drought. Additional fees will also be implemented if a drought is declared to curb water use. The more water used and the higher the drought stage, the higher water rates will be. Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Mont.), Aug. 21, 2019

The soybean harvest was underway in the Coastal Bend, but quality losses were anticipated, given the absence of rain for more than 30 days. Extremely dry rangelands and pastures were deteriorating in quality and quantity. With some grazed pastures being short, producers began supplemental feeding or were giving livestock protein or hay. Some producers sold cattle. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 20, 2019

The Clallum County Public Utility District encouraged voluntary water conservation for customers of the Gales Addition, Mount Angeles and Monroe water systems, where Stage 2 water alerts were declared. Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News (Wash.), Aug. 19, 2019

A 90-day burn ban took effect in unincorporated parts of Galveston County as hot, dry weather increased the fire risk. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index for the county was 593. KPRC-TV NBC 2 Houston (Texas), Aug. 16, 2019

Belton residents were asked to voluntarily conserve water and limit non-essential water use as the community faced a mild water shortage. The city was in Stage 1 Drought Conditions due to unusually high water use. KXXV-TV ABC 25 Waco (Texas), Aug. 19, 2019

A burn ban took effect in Henderson County for the next 30 days as hot, dry conditions heighten the fire danger. Rusk County officials also adopted an outdoor burn ban. KLTV-TV ABC 7 Tyler (Texas), Aug. 20, 2019

The dry weather in northern Indiana affected crop production and caused soil issues and an increase in insect activity. The first cuttings of hay and alfalfa were excellent, but the yields were down for the second and third cuttings. ABC 57 WBND-TV South Bend News (Ind.), Aug. 16, 2019

Residents of Kodiak were asked to voluntarily curb their water use due to an unusually hot summer and the possibility of a water supply shortage. Kodiak Daily Mirror (Alaska), Aug. 20, 2019

Cotton crop conditions were poor in Far West Texas, due to high winds and dry weather, with some fields wilting in the eastern part of the district. Producers continued to feed livestock and wildlife. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 20, 2019 The hot, dry weather in Far West Texas dried out rangelands and pastures as soil moisture decreased. Some cotton began shedding squares and bolls. Producers were giving supplemental hay and feed to livestock and wildlife. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 13, 2019 In the drier parts of Far West Texas, farmers were offering their livestock supplemental feed. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), July 30, 2019

The Clallam County Public Utility District issued a Stage 2 water alert for the Upper Fairview, Clallam Bay/Sekiu and Island View water systems in response to the governor’s declaration. The Olympic Mountains snowpack was down to 22 percent of normal on May 25 as the snow melted early, increasing the possibility of water shortages later in the year. Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News (Wash.), May 26, 2019

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that Arizona and Nevada will face cuts in allocations from Lake Mead in 2020 because the reservoir is anticipated to fall below 1,090 feet above sea level on Jan. 1. Arizona, a junior water use, will receive about 7 percent or 192,000 acre-feet less, while Nevada gets 3 percent less, amounting to 9,000 acre-feet going unused. Santa Fe New Mexican (N.M.), Aug. 16, 2019

An emergency order banning outdoor burning was signed July 31, and Burnet County commissioners extended the ban on Aug. 8 for the next 90 days, due to heat and little rain in the forecast to ease the fire danger. Open burning was also prohibited in Llano County. Burnet Bulletin (Texas), Aug. 14, 2019

Haines Borough stopped selling water to cruise ships on July 1 and has lost roughly $10,000 to $15,000 in revenue. Chilkat Valley News (Alaska), Aug. 8, 2019

Soybeans in Vermillion County were short from lack of rain and were very short in Champaign County. news gazette (Champaign, Ill.), Aug. 15, 2019

Mandatory water restrictions were reissued in Haines Borough as dry conditions persisted and the level of Lily Lake fell. Chilkat Valley News (Alaska), Aug. 8, 2019 Drought and insufficient snowpack lowered Lily Lake, usually supplying 80 percent of Haines’ water needs, to an historic low this summer to the point that water no longer flows by gravity from the lake, due to a problem with the pipeline. Water production was down to 130 gallons per minute, rather than 250 gallons per minute. KHNS (Haines, Alaska), Aug. 12, 2019